Emergency Communications To Be Significantly Enhanced

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the Executive Office of Public Safety, and Mayor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness today announced that they have reached a funding agreement for improvement on the emergency communications infrastructure in the MBTA’s underground stations and tunnels.

The parties agreed on the design and installation of radio systems that will not only allow communications between emergency first responders and their dispatchers, but also between commanders of the various agencies that are likely to respond to an emergency.

Once complete, the project will expand and provide enhanced radio communications within the MBTA’s tunnels for the Boston Emergency Medical Service, the Boston Fire and Police Departments, MetroFire (Regional Fire Network that supports 35 fire departments), BAPERN (Boston Area Police Emergency Radio Network that supports over 100 police departments), the Cambridge Fire and Police Departments, the Somerville Fire and Police Departments, the Massachusetts State Police, and the MBTA Transit Police Department.

The project will be split into two phases. Phase I will consist of the installation of new equipment and the re-allocation of existing frequencies in order to achieve operability for Boston EMT’s, Boston Fire Department, Cambridge Fire and Police Departments, Somerville Fire and Police Departments, and interoperability for Incident Commanders on tactical channels.

During Phase II, additional channels will be added for the Boston Police Department, BAPERN, and Boston’s Emergency Medical Service.

“Interoperability is a buzz word that is tossed around a lot, but quite simply, this agreement will allow all public safety personnel to respond in a timely and efficient manner to any emergency in the subway system,” said MBTA General Manager Daniel A. Grabauskas. “The MBTA is strongly committed to this project because of its critical importance in helping to ensure the safety of our customers and employees in the event of an emergency – big or small.”

Secretary Kevin M. Burke of the Executive Office of Public Safety further added: “This milestone represents a significant step forward as the Patrick-Murray Administration partners with other agencies to ensure that our vital transportation system remains as safe as possible for our citizens to travel with the knowledge these systems will be in place.

“Collaborations like this and the ability for different emergency agencies to communicate is vital to the public safety of our residents, visitors, and first responders,” said Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “This is another step in which we are working closely with the Commonwealth’s emergency services departments to come up with better ways to improve overall public safety.”

Phase I of this effort is anticipated to cost $8 million dollars. The MBTA has committed $4 million through a combination of funds received from the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Transit Administration. The Executive Office of Public Safety and the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness each committed $2 million of their Homeland Security funds.